Super Size Taxpaid Revenues

I collect some of the more obscure U.S. revenues -- taxpaids and special tax stamps -- which look something a hybrid between stamps and paper money. These are not listed in the Scott catalog, only the Springer. Many of these are quite large. In fact, special tax stamps (licenses, really, for those in the liquor and tobacco trade) are technically the largest U.S. stamps ever produced -- 14.5" x 7" if you include the stub. The cigar taxpaids top out at 17".

I thought I'd post some of mine, since many philatelists have never seen them. Does anyone else collect this kind of esoteric material? I'd love to see some other examples on this thread.

There are quite a few collectors of this type of material, that's why certain editions of Springer's are so expensive and difficult to find. I myself collect the Special Tax Stamps for billiards, and have others as well. There is also a specific catalog for the complete run of Special Tax Stamps by Terry Hines. It's out of print and usually not cheap, but it's a great resource. Also there is a book out on the pre-Special Tax Stamp era Occupation Licenses from the 1862-1871 period by Alan Hicks.

I have some taxpaid material, primarily for thematic purpose (my Ohioana collection), but I also have been putting aside Mixed Flour taxpaids in hopes of doing a one-frame exhibit. It's been tough going.

This is an area of U.S. revenues that I've never delved into, but these examples have definitely whetted my interest. Thanks, Greg. And revcollector, despite all my years of dabbling in revenues, I had no idea there were special tax stamps for billiards!

You would be amazed at what the government has seen fit to tax over the last 238 years! Billiards taxes tended to follow the wars from 1862-1920; every time there was a war they brought back that tax. After that they became more of an every year tax until 1971.
The early mixed flour stamps are not easy to come by, as always with revenues one must remember the use they were put to and realize that the survival rates are often very poor. For sure the average housewife was not saving the stamps.

He said Wholesome Liquor :)

Everything from pleasure yachts to oleomargarine. I mostly collect 19th century material, primarily for the superb intaglio engravings. These occasionally show up on currency and treasury bonds (Andrew Jackson's portrait, for instance). I also have a small collection of Bureau of Engraving vignette proofs that I enjoy matching up with actual usages. I've found several on taxpaids.

A few more ...

Great collection, Greg. I also collect taxpaids, but my collection is far less extensive than what you've shown here. My interests are in the 1869 issue for tobacco taxpaids, the 1872 "first series" snuff stamps, and the first run of distilled spirits stamps (which you've got!).

My pride and joy, though, is a License for Sugar Producer. For my money, it's among the most beautiful pieces by the BEP.

Sugar Producer is a very scarce item. Most collectors have probably never seen one.

I've never seen one & would love to see a scan.

Alas, I don't own one. I have seen perhaps five in the last 40 or so years.

Wow, these are great. I'm fighting the urge to collect these. Think I'll the revenues first.

I would also love to see a scan of the Sugar Producer license, Dan. I have seen an image of one, but nothing with much detail. If I recall it has a harvest scene in a sugar cane field.

Eric Jackson $750

Richard Friedberg had one of these as a display item under glass at CHICAGOPEX. Fairly scarce. He had his priced at $800. It was still there when I left on Saturday.

I'm gobsmacked! (I love that word...)
Those are stunning, I must say.